Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 25

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

न्यग्रोधं तमुपागम्य वैदेही वाक्यमब्रवीत्।नमस्तेऽस्तु महावृक्ष पारयेन्मे पतिर्व्रतम्।।2.55.24।।कौशल्यां चैव पश्येयं सुमित्रां च यशश्विनीम्।इति सीताऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा पर्यगच्छद्वनस्पतिम्।।2.55.25।।

Transliteration

nyagrodhaṃ tam upāgamya vaidehī vākyam abravīt |

namas te ’stu mahā-vṛkṣa pārayen me patir vratam ||2.55.24||

kaŭśalyāṃ caiva paśyeyaṃ sumitrāṃ ca yaśasvinīm |

iti sītā ’ñjaliṃ kṛtvā paryagacchad vanaspatim ||2.55.25||

Translation

เมื่อพระนางไวเทหี (สีดา) เสด็จเข้าไปใกล้ต้นไทรนั้น ก็ตรัสว่า “ขอนอบน้อมแด่ท่าน โอ้มหาพฤกษา ขอให้พระสวามีของข้าพเจ้าทรงสำเร็จวรตะ (ปณิธาน) และขอให้ข้าพเจ้าได้เฝ้าพระนางเกาศัลยาและพระนางสุมิตราอันทรงเกียรติอีกครั้ง” ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระนางสีดาประนมพระหัตถ์ด้วยศรัทธา และเวียนประทักษิณรอบพฤกษาอันประเสริฐนั้น

Word by Word

• अवलोक्य: having seen
• अवलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); ‘having looked at/seen’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमबोधक

• सीताम्: Sītā
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आयाचन्तीम्: seeking (blessings)
• आयाचन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + याच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying सीताम्)

• अनिन्दिताम्: blameless
• अनिन्दिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सीताम्)

• दयिताम्: beloved
• दयिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• विधेयाम्: obedient
• विधेयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Having reached the banyan tree, Sita invoked it, saying, 'O great tree I offer you my salutations. May my husband fulfil his vow May I behold Kausalya and the illustrious Sumitra on my return. Saying so, she went round the tree offering reverential salutations with folded hands.

Characters & Entities

• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Nyagrodha (banyan tree)
• Rama (husband)
• Kausalya
• Sumitra

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is steadfast marital fidelity and truthful prayer: Sita’s pativratā orientation seeks Rama’s vow-fulfilment while holding to hope of reunion with elders, blending devotion, duty, and auspicious conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

During the forest journey, Sita approaches a banyan tree, offers salutations, prays for Rama’s successful completion of the exile-vow, and circumambulates the tree.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s devotion and purity of intention—reverent, disciplined, and oriented toward duty and family harmony.